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Witness intimidation alleged in Dracut home invasion case

By Lisa Redmond, lredmond@lowellsun.com

Updated:
11/18/2012 07:11:59 AM EST

LOWELL -- While Dylan Cummings was being arraigned on charges in connection with a bloody home invasion in Dracut last month, prosecutors say his ex-girlfriend was being intimidated in the courthouse lobby by someone linked to Cummings.

In Lowell District Court on Friday, Christopher J. Silva, 41, of 576 Lawrence St., second floor, Apt. 7, Lowell, pleaded not guilty to one count of intimidation of a witness. His bail was revoked on several of his pending cases, holding him without bail. The judge set $2,000 cash bail in the new case.

Prosecutor Joseph Posner alleges that Cummings' former girlfriend came to court Thursday to be present at arraignment. About 11:15 a.m., Silva, who is the boyfriend of Cummings' mother, approached her in the courthouse lobby calling her "a rat" and telling her, "I know where you live," Posner said.

The victim reported the incident to the Middlesex District Attorney's Office.

Defense attorney Stephen Barton said Silva maintains that what he said in the lobby was "drastically different" from what the victim reported.

On Oct. 20, a 21-year-old man was stabbed five times and his 51-year-old father was beaten with a baseball bat inside a Dracut home. Cummings is one of six men charged in the case.

After the incident, Cummings arrived at the former girlfriend's home and allegedly told her about the home invasion and that he had stabbed someone five times, police said.

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Officers seized a black shirt Cummings allegedly wore and a baseball bat that may have been used in the assault.

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